Android Builders Summit 2013 - Embedded Development on Android using the Dragonboard Dev Kit

### Overview At the Android Builders Summit 2013, a Qualcomm representative presented on the convergence of mobile technology and embedded systems development. The presentation explores how smartphones and mobile systems-on-a-chip (SoCs)—specifically Qualcomm Snapdragon processors running Android—have surpassed traditional PC paradigms in power efficiency, thermal performance, and integrated multimedia. The talk introduces the Dragonboard development kit, powered by an Intrinsic system-on-a-module (SoM), as a platform enabling developers to bring mobile hardware and software capabilities into robotics, medical devices, automotive equipment, and smart appliances.

### Key Topics - **Mobile-to-Embedded Convergence:** The shift from traditional embedded systems to "intelligent embedded" devices across connected homes, digital signage, robotics, and industrial environments. - **Advantages of Mobile SoCs:** Why mobile processors like Snapdragon fit embedded requirements better than conventional x86 or legacy processors due to fanless operation, low power consumption, all-day battery life, and integration of CPU, GPU, DSP, and connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS). - **The Role of Android:** The benefits of using Android as an embedded operating system, highlighting its massive developer community, royalty-free licensing, Linux foundation, open source availability, and continuous ecosystem investment. - **The Dragonboard & SoM Model:** Overcoming the complexity and non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs of designing custom mobile SoC boards by using a modular approach: developing on a carrier board (Dragonboard) and deploying production designs via a compact System on Module (SoM).

### Technical Details - **Hardware Architecture:** The featured development kit uses an Intrinsic "Open-Q" SoM based on the Snapdragon S4 Plus (APQ8064 / MSM8960 / 8060A class), utilizing Krait CPU cores, Adreno GPU, integrated power management, and open-architecture Hexagon DSP. The carrier board adheres to a Mini-ITX form factor and includes interfaces such as JTAG, ADB over USB, Fastboot, HDMI, microSD, Ethernet, and specialized sensor headers (including STMicroelectronics sensor boards). - **Software Stack and Tooling:** - Source code distribution is split between the open-source Code Aurora Forum (CAF) and proprietary vendor firmware/patches hosted by Intrinsic. - Standard Android flashing tools (`fastboot`, `adb`) and Android build frameworks are utilized. - The **Snapdragon SDK** exposes advanced APIs for computer vision, facial processing (detecting eyes, smiles, coordinates), contextual awareness, indoor positioning, and touch-free gestures (swipes, cursor controls). - **AllJoyn:** An open-source, peer-to-peer framework enabling proximity-based device discovery and communication across Wi-Fi and Bluetooth without requiring a centralized server. - **Trepn Profiler:** An on-target Android profiling tool capable of reporting CPU usage, frequency, memory, and per-application battery power consumption directly on the device. - **Demonstrated Prototypes:** Examples shown include a smart photo booth running touch-up software (Perfect365) via Android and a transparent kitchen display built into an easy-to-clean glass enclosure.

### Takeaways The rapid evolution of mobile application processors has created ready-made, energy-efficient building blocks for embedded engineering. Using modular development systems like the Dragonboard alongside Android and specialized vendor SDKs allows embedded engineers and software vendors to build connected, context-aware products without absorbing the multi-million-dollar NRE costs traditionally required to design multi-core mobile chipsets into hardware.